Tape cutter



1964 D. E. MARTIN 3,159,322

TAPE CUTTER Filed Jan. 16, 1964 3 51166165451186, 1

David E. Martin 1N VENTOR.

Mafia. BY W Dec. 1, 1964 D. E. MARTIN 3,159,322

. TAPE CUTTER Filed Jan. 16, 1964 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 8

00 via E Martin 1N VENTOR Dec. 1, 1964 D. E. MARTIN 3,159,322

TAPE CUTTER Filed Jan. 16, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Dav/'0' E Mari/n l N VEN TOR.

United States Patent 3,159,322 TAPE CUTTER David E. Martin, R0. Box 12, Richiield, Calif. Filed Jan. 16, 1964, Ser. No. 338,19% 9 Claims. (Cl. 22556) The present invention is generally concerned with tape cutters, and is more particularly directed to a tape cutter operable in a manner so as to not only sever a predetermined length of tape from a roll, but also so as to retain -a portion of the unsevered tape away from the remainder of the roll in a manner allowing easy access thereto for the removal of a subsequent portion of the tape.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the instant invention to provide a tape cutter which, in addition to severing the tape, also holds the end of the unsevered portion of tape upwardly and outwardly from the remainder of the roll in order that it might easily be grasped.

Another highly significant object of the instant invention is to provide a tape cutter which is mountable directly about a roll of tape on the tape spool.

Along with the above object, it is also an object of the instant invention to, for those types of tape not normally provided on a spool, provide a unique spool structu-re readily engaged with the tape roll and cooperatively engageable with the cutter.

Furthermore, it is an object of the instant invention to provide a cutter which, within a certain range, is useful with different width tapes.

In addition, it is an object of the instant invention to provide a cutter which can be left in position upon the .spool, the cutter incorporating a movable guard or shield means so as to avoid accidental contact with the cutting edges.

Likewise, it is an object of the instant invention to provide a tape cutter which, aside from the pivotally mounted shield, has no moving parts.

Also, it is an object of the instant invention to provide a tape cutter which is simple in construction and of a highly rugged nature.

Further, it is an object of the instant invention to pro vide a novel easily mountable and removable spool structure for use with those types of roll tape not normally provided with such spools, such as for example friction tape or insulating tape.

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the cutter, with the guard closed, mounted upon a tape spool;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view similar to FIGURE 3 with the guard swung to one side;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view through I the combined spool and cutter illustrating the manner in which the leading end of the tape is retained upwardly away from the tape following the severing of a portion thereof;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of the invention including both a tape cutter and a removable roll spool;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged transverse cross-sectional view through the device of FIGURE 6;

ais aazz Patented Dec. 1, 1964 ice FIGURE 8 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on a plane passing along line 8--8 in FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG- URE 7 illustrating the manner in which the severing of a portion of tape and a grasping of the leading end of the unsevered portion is achieved;

FIGURE 10 is an exploded perspective view of the tape cutter and removable spool of FIGURE 6; and

FIGURE 11 is a top plan view of the cutter head.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, reference numeral 2i) is used to generally designate the tape cutter comprising the instant invention. The cutter 20 consists basically of an arcuate base member 22 having a forward cutting head or end 24, a shield or guard 26 for the cutting end 24 pivotally mounted slightly to the rear thereof, and a pair of mounting flanges 28 depending in coplanar relationship from one longitudinal edge of the base member 22.

The cutting end or head 24 is bifurcated with each furcatio-n 30 having sharpened edges, these furcation edges converging rfiorwardly to a sharp leading point 32. The inner edge of each furcation 30 extends generally longitudinally of the base member 22 as compared to the sharply angled outer furcation edge. At a point substantially transversely aligned with the rear end of the outer sharpened furcation edge, the inner furcation edge of each furoation 30 is angled outwardly and rearwardly, as indicated by reference numeral 34, and stops short of the adjacent base member side. Located between the diverging inner edge portions 34 is a forwardly projecting center cutter 36 having a forward cutting point and rearwardly diverging cutting edges extending laterally to or beyond the planes of the inner cutting edges of the furcatio-ns 30 so as to ensure an entire severing of the tape as shall be described subsequently.

A forwardly projecting retaining pin or tongue 38 is mounted, in any suitable manner such as by riveting or vWelding, to the undersurface of the base member 22, this end 40, having a hump 42.

Theguard or shield 26 is pivotally secured to the top surface of the base member 22 by, for example, a headed rivet 44. This pivotal connection is located slightlyrearward of the cutting head 24 whereby the guard 26 might be moved between two positions, a firs-t position overlying the cutting head and projecting slightly forward thereof, and a second position extending laterally from the base member 22 rearward of the cutting head so as to not interfere with the cutting action. Limiting the pivotal movement of the guard 26 to these two positions is a stop or abutment 46 secured to the outer surface of the base member 22 directly behind the guard 26 with the flat rear edge 48 of the guard 26, when the guard is longitudinally arranged along the base member 22 so as to cover the cutting head 24, engaged against the stop 46. In order to provide a movement of the guard 26 to a laterally projecting position, a notch 50 is provided at the rear of the guard 26 along that side of the guard toward which the guard is to be turned, this notch 50 merging with the flat rear edge 48 of the guard 26 along an arcuately formed portion 52 whereby a rotation of the guard 26 The coplanar mountingfianges 28, depending from one edge of the base member 22 at spaced points there along, 7 7

the arms 54 are spaced from'each other a distance slight ly less than the diameter of the hub 56 whereby a slight springing apart of these arms 54 is necessary so as to position the hub 56 therebetvveen, the material from which the cutter 20, or at least the flanges, 28 and arms 54 are formed inherently allowing this slight, springing vapart.

"In mounting the cutter 20 upon a tape-containing spool 58, themounting flanges 28 are engaged between the tape -62 and one of the spool side disks or flanges 64 with the arms 54 sprung into position about the hub 56, the arcuate' base member 22 thereby being positioned over the tape,

61 and generally conforming to the circumference thereof. It will be appreciated that slight variations in the width of the tapef62 can be accommodated as long as sufi'icient room is provided between the side disks 64 so as to accommodate' the cutter 20 with the arms 54 en-' gaged about the hubv56.

I In severing a portion of the tape 62, a predetermined amount of tape 62 is: drawn from the .taperoll forward of the cutting head 24, after which the tape, is moved upwardly'and rearwardlyagainst the sharpened furcations 30,;this movement of the tape 62 causinga gradual severing of the tape ,62 along a transverse line. The severing is accomplished by the sharpened edges of the furcations 30 with'that portion of, the tape62 located between the furcations 30 remaining'unsevered, this space between the.

, furcations 30 being such'so as to allow for a substantial, width of ,unsevered tape so as to prevent any accidental tearing'ot thetape during this initial operation; As the tape 62 is moved rearwardly and severed, outwardly from thece'nter thereof, by the fur'cations' 30, the unsevered portion is pierced by the pointed leading end of the retaining pin 38 with subsequentrearward movement of the tape 62 moving the tape rearwardly along the pin '38 and behind the hump'42, this continuing rearward movement also bringing the: heretofore unsevered center por- 'IlQIllOfIh tape 62' into contact with the center cutter 36 which completes the severing of the tape 62 substantially along the same line along which the initial severing by dianreter of the hub 56, this use, the cutter 24) is raised slightly in order that the guard 26 might clear the outer periphery of the side disk 64 over which the guard 26'is to be projected so as to expose the cutting head'24. This slight raising of the cutter 20 'is allowed by the relatively larger diameter of the opening formed by the arcuate arms 54 as compared to the being appreciated from FIGURE 5.

1 Referring now specifically to FIGURES 6-10, it will be noted that a modified form ofcutt'er 68 has been illus 1 tratecl therein, this cutter 68 being of generally heavier construction as compared to the cutter 20 for use with heavier tapes such as frictionitape and insulating tape. Inasmuch as such heavier tapes are normally not provided on a spool of the type indicated by reference numeral 58, the form of the instant invention illustrated in FIGURES 6-10 also contemplates the provision of a" removable spool 7tl which can be used to temporarily mount the tape, this tape being indicatedsby reference nu- 1nerai 72, and the cutter 68."

V The removable spool 7i consists o f two side plates 74, i a'hollow cylindrical hub 76,'an elongated threaded 6011- the cylindrical hub 76 as shown in'FIGURE 8, The bolt '78, having an enlarged head 84 on one end thereof,

is extended through centrally locatedholes 86, one within each, convex portion 82, with the head 86 engaged with i the outer face of one side disk 74, within the recess "formed by the convex portion 82, and with the nut the furcations 30' took place *In this manner, not'only is the desired length of tape 62'severed from the roll, but

'tl ie leading or forward endof the remainder of the ita'pe 'is I retained upwardly and; outwardly from the roll, note FIGURE 5', for easy'access 'theretoby, merely pressing down onf'the rear portion of the base member 22 and, rotating the'cutterZU rearwardly so as to disengage this leading endof :the tape from the pin 38. While, each step "in :the severing of a portion of the tape 62 and a simultaneous gripping of the leading endoii the unsevered portion'hasxbeen described separately, it will of course be appreciated that these steps occuralmost simultaneously with the .user of the device pressing downwardly on the v Q basemember 22 just to the rear of the stop 415 withlthe firiger of one hand and grasping the' extended portion of the tape 62 in the other hand, the actual severing being 7 accomplished by a quick upward and rearward pull of the extended portion of the tapes Theihump 42in the pin38 retains the leading end of the tape 62against'anyf accidental disengagement, however, it does not, upon a movalof a portion of tape; i a

the" subsequent res 11 comparing FIGURES 3 aud t, it will be notedthat threaded on the other end of the bolt 78 located within the recess formedby the other convex portion 82 in the outer surface of the other, side disk 74. This nut 80, as will be appreciated from FIGURE 8, has a convex for 7 Ward face so as to conform to the portion 82, the threaded 1 end of the bolt 7 8 being threadedly received within a blind bore in the nut 80. In addition, the nut 89 is provided with a transversely extending outwardly projecting grip g ping rib 88, of a size so as to be conveniently grasped j between the fingers so as to allow for a tightening and V release of the nut80 without requirin'g'the use of tools;

Inasmuchnas tape' of the type herein referred to is frequently used by workmen, such as telephone repair men or linemen, it is contemplated that this removable I spool'itl also include a reversely bent resilient clip 90 throughwhich the'spool 70 can be hung, for easy access, on the belt. This clip 90, formed from a fiat piece 1 of resilient man, includes a'first long leg positioned against the outer face; of the disk 74 through which the bolt 78 is-introduced, this longer leg having an arcuate portion 92 therein conforming to the depression formed 7 'by the convex portion 32. This arcuateportion 92 is provided with a central aperture through which the bolt 78 also extends with the bolt head 84 engaging against the outer face of the arcuate portion 92 so as to lock the clip 90 to the spool when the nut 80 is tightened. The I outer leg of the clip 90, formed integrally with the inner V 7 leg and extending generally parallel' thereto,/is resiliently related to'the inner leg in a manner so as tob'e resiliently i movabl e awayirom the, innerrleg for the reception of,

when the; guard 26 is closed over the cuttinghead 24, the

7' entire cutter 26 can be positioned below the outer peripher'y of the side disks, 7 64 -thus providing a. compact. 7 ackage no larger than the, original spool 58 When in for example, a belt in clamping relationship therebe- 1 tween. In addition, "inasmuch as the; necessity might' arise for the carrying of more than one of' these tape-containing spools 70, it is contemplated that at least one of the side disks 74 be provided with a enlarged aperture 94 therethrou'gh adjacentithe outer periphery thereof, this aperture 94 receiving the mounting clip 9il of a subsequent spool therethroughTwhereby the second spool I will depend from the first spoohwith the tape on eachspool being readily accessible without interference from 1 'the other spool, i V Y t 'The tape cutter 68, aside from'being slightly larger and heavier than the cutter 20, is similar thereto in both i H Operation and structure, this tape cutter 68 including an,

arcuate base member 96, a bifurcated cutting head on the leading end of the base member 96, a pivotally mounted guard 100 just to the rear of the cutting head, a stop 102 limiting the movement of the guard 100, and two coplanar depending mounting flanges 104 located at spaced points along one edge of the base member 96, these mounting flanges 104 terminating in arcuate arms 106 forming a hub-receiving opening therebetween with a restricted entry requiring a resilient biasing apart of the arms 106 to allow for the introduction of the hub 76.

In use, the severing action of the cutter 68 is the same as that described in detail supra in connection with the cutter 20, that is, the cutter 68, mounted on the spool 70, is firmly positioned by one hand while the other hand pulls a predetermined portion of the tape from the roll after which the extended portion of tape is pulled rearwardly and upwardly against the cutter head 98 causing an initial severing of the tape 72 outwardly from the center thereof, this center portion of the tape 72 engaging and becoming hung up on the forwardly projecting pointed pin or tongue 108, with the final severing of the central portion'of the tape being accomplished, rearward of the forward end of the pin 108, by the center cutter 110. In this manner, not only is the desired length of tape 72 severed from the roll, but the leading end of the remainder of the tape is maintained upwardly away from the roll for easy grasping when the cutting of an additional portion of tape is desired. In obtaining access to this leading end of the roll, the cutter 68 is rotated rearwardly relative to the roll of tape 72 thus leaving the leading end projecting upwardly free of the pin 108 forward of the cutting head 98, this disengagement of the gripping pin 108 from the leading end of the tape 72 is illustrated in phantom lines in FIGURE 9, the solid line illustration of the leading end of the tape illustrating the movement of the tape during the severing and gripping operation.

The cutting head 68 further ditfers from the cutting head 20 in that the guard 104 is to be laterally projectable beyond both longitudinal edges of the base member 96, this being accomplished by providing two notches 112 adjacent the rear end of the guard 100 along both edges of the guard with the intermediate rear edge of the guard being rounded so as to allow pivotal movement of the guard 100 from an intermediate longitudinally extending position covering the cutter head 98 to a perpendicular orientation, in either of two directions, with inner edge of the corresponding notch 112 engaged against the stop 102.

As will be appreciated from FIGURE 6, when the guard 100 is in its closed position over the cutter head 98, the cutter 68 is received between the side disks 74 inwardly of the outer periphery thereof so as to be in efiect completely concealed. The side disks 74 are provided with a pair of transversely aligned arcuate recesses 114 in the outer peripheries thereof, the guard 109, when opened or moved away from the cutting head 98, projecting laterally through one of these recesses 114, this movement of the guard 100 being facilitated by the relatively loose fit of the hub 76 between the arcuate arms 166 as was the case with the form of the invention illustrated in FIGURES 1-5. Upon a positioning of the guard 100 through one of the recesses 114, it will be appreciatedthat there will be a tendency for the cutter 68 to maintain its position relative to the spool 70 during the severing of the tape in that a tendency for the cut-' ter 68 to rotate relative to the spool 70 will be resisted by engagement of the edges of the guard 100 with the sides of recess 114, thus facilitating the severing of a portion of tape which will, for example in the case of a lineman, have to be done under difiicult circumstances.

These aligned recesses 114 additionally function as a means for facilitating the removal of the cutter 68 from the spool 70 in that a finger can be introduced through each recess 114 into gripping engagement with the opposite edges of the base member 96 after which one need merely exert an upward pulling of the cutter 68 relative to the spool 70 so as to cause a slight outward springing of the arms 106. In order to facilitate this gripping of the base member 96, recesses 116 are also provided in the edges thereof, these recesses 116 being aligned with the recesses 114 prior to the grasping of the cutter 68 between the fingers. This provision of means for positively grasping the cutter 68 so as to efiect its removal from the spool 70 is deemed highly desirable because of the relatively heavy nature of the cutter 68 as compared to the relatively light construction of the cutter 20 which will in most instances be used with conventional adhesive tape.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that a highly novel tape cutter has been defined, this tape cutter being removably mounted upon a tape spool and operable in a manner so as to not only etfect a severing of the tape but to also retain the leading end of the unsevered portion of the tape upwardly away from the main body of the roll thus allowing for an easily grasped portion when it is desired to remove a subsequent portion of tape. In addition, a novel removable spool has been defined, this spool being particularly adapted for mounting those types of tape not normally provided with spools, for example friction tapes and insulation tapes. This spool, in providing a means for mounting the tape, also provides a means for mounting the cutter relative to the tape for use in the above referred to manner.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A tape cutter for severing a predetermined length of tape from a roll mounted upon a tape spool, said cutter including an elongated base member, a cutter head on the forward end of said base member, said cutter head including two spaced forwardly projecting portions, each portion including forwardly converging sides terminating in a pointed forward end, said portions being of a width so as to sever all but the central portion of the tape along a transverse line across the width of the tape, a forwardly projecting tape-retaining means located below the cutter head portions and in alignment with the space therebetween, the forward end of the retaining means being located rearward of the forward ends of the cutter head portions for receiving a portion of the tape below the transverse line of severance, and a sharp edged cutting portion rearward of the space between the cutter head portions and in alignment therewith, this cutting portion being of a width so as to sever the previously unsevered width of the tape.

2. The structure of claim 1 including spool-gripping means secured to one edge of the base member and depending therefrom for removable engagement with the spool, said spool-gripping means including a pair of longitudinally spaced coplanar flanges terminating in independent arcuate arms, said arms forming, in conjunction with each other, a circular aperture with a restricted access opening thereto.

3. The structure of claim 2 including a guard, said guard being pivotally mounted to the base member for movement between a first position over said cutter head and a second position extending laterally from the base member.

4..v The structure of claim 3 including means for limiting movement of the guard solely between these two positions. I

S. The structure of claim 2 wherein the tape-retaining means consists of aforwardly projecting sharpened pin tion, said hump preventing accidental withdrawal of the a tape from the pin. a

V 7. A device for mounting a'roll of tape and allowing for the severing of a predeterminedportion thereof in cluding a cylindrical hub positionable transversely through the center of the roll of tape, a pair of side disks positionable on,opposite sides of said center hub, a transversely extending bolt means for clamping the side disks to opposite sides of the hub so as to retain the rollof tape therebetween, a formed base member positioned over the periphery of the tape between the side disks, said base member having a bifurcated leading end, the furcations of the bifurcated end being'spa'ced from eachother, each turcation including forwardly converging sharpened edges, 2. forwardly projecting pin located below the bifurcated end and in alignment with the space between the furcations, the leading end of the pin being located rearward of the leading end of the furcations, a pair of forwardly converging cutting edges in alignment with the cutting edges of the furcations and terminating in a point spaced rear'wardly of the space between the furcations and in alignment therewith, and means for mounting the base 8 7 member on the hub for-rotational movement relative to a the tape roll.

8. A removable spool for a tape roll consisting of a hollow cylindrical hub, a side disk engageable with each end of the hub, each side dish including a centrally located inwardly projecting convex portion received within the end of the hub so as to center the disk relative thereto, each convex portion including a centrally located aperture therethrough, a bolt extending through said apertures and through the intermediate hub, said bolt having an enlarged head on one end thereof engaged with one of thediskgand a nut threaded on the opposite end of the bolt and engaged with theother disk so as to eifect atdrawing in of the disks and a clamping of the hub therebetween.

9. The structure of claim 8 including a resilient clip secured to the outer surface of one of the sidedisks, the

other of the side disks having an enlarged aperture there-, I through of a size so as to receive a clip corresponding in size to the aforementioned clip whereby one spool may be secured to'anotherg r References Citedin the file of this patent v I UNITED- STATES PATENTS 2,333,924

Gorbatenkb Nov. 9, 1943 2,592,865 Corey Apr. 15, 1952 2,781,094 Martin Feb. 12, 1957' 2,842,201

Vogt July- 8, 1 958 

1. A TAPE CUTTER FOR SEVERING A PREDETERMINED LENGHTH OF TAPE FROM A ROLL MOUNTED UPON A TAPE SPOOL, SAID CUTTER INCLUDING AN ELONGATED BASED MEMBER, A CUTTER HEAD ON THE FORWARD END OF SAID BASE MEMBER, SAID CUTTER HEAD INCLUDING TWO SPACED FORWARDLY PROJECTING PORTIONS, EACH PORTION INCLUDING FORWARDLY CONVERGING SIDES TERMINATING IN A POINTED FORWARD END, SAID PORTIONS BEING OF A WIDTH SO AS TO SEVER ALL BUT THE CENTRAL PORTION OF THE TAPE ALONG A TRANSVERSE LINE ACROSS THE WIDTH OF THE TAPE, A FORWARDLY PROJECTING TAPE-RETAINING MEANS LOCATED BELOW THE CUTTER HEAD PORTIONS AND IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE SPACE THEREBETWEEN, THE FORWARD END OF THE RETAINING MEANS BEING LOCATED REARWARD OF THE FORWARD ENDS OF THE CUTTER HEAD PORTIONS FOR RECEIVING A PORTION OF THE TAPE BELOW THE TRANSVERSE LINE OF SEVERANCE, AND A SHARP EDGED CUTTING PORTIONS REARWARD OF THE SPACE BETWEEN THE CUTTER HEAD PORTIONS AND IN ALIGNMENT THEREWITH, THIS CUTTING PORTION BEING OF A WIDTH SO AS TO SEVER THE PREVIOUSLY UNSEVERED WIDTH OF THE TAPE. 